NC Highway Patrol will be targeting excessive speeders next week

The North Carolina Highway Patrol announced Friday that its annual Operation Slow Down 2014 campaign to catch excessive speeders on state highways will begin next week.

From staff reports

The North Carolina Highway Patrol announced Friday that its annual Operation Slow Down 2014 campaign to catch excessive speeders on state highways will begin next week.

Operation Slow Down, which begins Monday, April 14 and ends Sunday, April 20 was created to reduce traffic collisions across the state, according to a release from the agency.

"Our number one priority is to ensure the safety of the motoring public," said Bill Grey, commander of the North Carolina Highway Patrol. "The Highway Patrol is determined to reduce fatal collisions in North Carolina by targeting speeders who recklessly endanger our citizens."

Speed remains the leading cause of traffic collisions and fatalities in North Carolina and across the country. Last year, the Highway Patrol investigated 815 fatal collisions on North Carolina highways statewide. Of those collisions, 208 deaths were attributed to speed. In 2012, 242 deaths were reported overall.

During Operation Slow Down 2013, troopers issued more than 19,581 citations for numerous traffic violations, including 8,634 speed-related charges.

Operation Slow Down 2014 enforcement efforts will be conducted across the state. The campaign will focus on motorists exceeding the posted speed limit on interstates and major four-lane highways.

Troopers will be using marked and unmarked patrol vehicles to target the most dangerous roadways in each county, according to the release. They will also be looking for speeding commercial motor vehicle drivers who may be committing serious traffic violations. These violations include following too closely, improper or erratic lane change, careless and reckless driving and any violation of the motor vehicle laws that can result in serious injury or death.

Motorists may report dangerous driving to the Highway Patrol by dialing *HP on their cellular phones from anywhere in the state.